A letter arrives via courier to one Matilda of Saint Agnes? Cathedral of Light:

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Mayu leapt at Alice, caught by the thin of arms, the flex of bicep of a woman who was conditioned and trained until the peeks of muscle were apparent beneath the bronze of skin. "I haven't seen you in almost a year, Alice!"

The auburn hunter released a crisp laugh. "When you've done what I have for as long as I have, you tend to hear things that you both want to and don't. In this case, I happened to ask somebody I knew if they heard anything around here.?

He nodded quickly, grinning as he watched the pair of them. It was sweet and one of the rare times that he felt like he should leave them alone. They had to catch up. He could try to make good on that taco thing. ...God, he sounded like Katt even in his own head. "It's a good thing that eveything's mostly all sorted out then," he snickered, dropping his hand from his head. "Anyone want food?"

An arm kept the girl gift wrapped, tossing the pistol into her available hand to aim it at Toby. "And where do you think you're going?"

"A-um..I guess..nowhere?" He'd taken a step, but had frozen all over again. He, for a moment, wished that he had someone like Alice who pointed weapons at people. May had a bunch of them.

"Why don't we all go in and have a little chat. You can explain to me how these rumors started when I was under the impression she'd remain well taken care of," motioning at Toby with her gun, and following after him.

Mayu was presently wrapped up in one of Alice's arms, her own spindly, narrow limbs tight about the woman's shoulders.

"Technically, she was well taken care of. Just..not by me for a while." He looked at May instead of the gun, then turned to lead them into the room. He collapsed onto the pristinely made bed. "I don't know how they started. No one outside of May, Katt, me and Zenny knew what was going on. The most anyone *here* knew that someone had tried to get at May."

"It was Agatha's fault Tracy got into the church in the first place, and I remember Zenny saying something about her being punished for it. It must have been Agatha or Margaret that started everything."

Alice holstered her weapon, releasing the girl so she may slide of her own accord down her tall height. She smirked at Toby, "I knew about that already. If you remember, you and I came here in order to put a stop to that when it happened." She looked after the girl, a gloved hand nesting in her dark green hair.

She winced briefly at Alice's touch, grinning up to her tall friend immediately afterward. "W-Well, what if what you heard was like the same thing? It's weird you only recently heard all of this, and nothing's happened in... a year, give or take a month or two." She looked between the two of them, not certain what to follow that up with. "Maybe?"

"Something must have gotten mixed up then. The last time anyone knew anything concerning any of that was back when we took May out of the church. If Zenny screwed around in Agatha's head, it's no wonder she can't remember stuff that she did. She could've easily mistaken 'attack' for 'death'. Zenny was pissed off." He leaned his elbows onto his knees, looking up at the two. "What exactly *did* you hear, I can probably fill in the blanks better that way."

"That is still the same incident that I was made aware of well before I left," regarding Toby with a dispirited look. "I sought information on a short girl who was living at the church here. The only reliable return from the information broker was that she was decease and no longer a part of this church," she explained coolly, smoothing out the short girl's hair as she mentioned her.

Mayu thought briefly, "That sounds like what happened back at the warehouse... which means... you might've already known about the information you were told, as well?" looking to Toby for confirmation. "That means whatever person you talked to was really out of date on his information..."

He shared a few seconds' long look with May, nodding softly. "The crap with the warehouse happened before all of *this* stuff. ...If they mean no longer a part of the church as in she doesn't live her anymore, that's right, 'cause she doesn't She doesn't really work for the *church* either. Just..some part of it. You could shoot your information broker in the foot? She's obviously not dead." He waved his hand at the half embrace the pair still shared.

"Yes, that much is evident," Alice mused in unison. The hand fell from Mayu's head. "It?s given me excuse to pause between jobs to come check in with my favorite duo. I'm glad you're both accounted for without there being death involved." She seated herself on the bed, sharp blue eyes watching Mayu. "And it gives me a chance to see if you'd be interested in joining me on a job that I have in the near future."

Mayu blinked, staring at Alice in return. "A job...? You mean, like one of those bounty jobs that you do?" It involved shooting people, so already she was feeling nervous. She fidgeted. "That... isn't really something I'm capable of helping with..."

"Wait, wait, you came here to see if she was alive just so you could bring her somewhere where she could possibly get killed?" He gave Alice a cockeyed look. "Not..that you couldn't shoot people before they shot her, just..that's..really kind of weird. What's up with that?"

"No, you dimwit, I wouldn't think of doing that," giving him the very same look. "If she's feeling up to it, I'd like to have her along. It's the perfect chance to hang out together. Otherwise, I'm going to have to cut this reunion short. I'm not able to keep this contract waiting."

?So it's just something simple." Alice has already answered most of his questions. He slid an uncomfortable look to May, not sure what to make of it. "Just her..?"

She didn't have the contract on hand, and settled for a synopsis. "Just her. The contract involves going incognito in order to find my hit. There's a party taking place at a villa with two guests that have become, let's say, ill, and will not be able to make it. One?s tall and striking, the other?s small and adorable. I believe we will be able to fill their shoes."

Mayu listened, fingers adding to the fidgeting, shaking uncontrollably like she was itching to get out from mass extremely early. "Are you sure I'd be able to... d-do that? That's not a-anything I've e-ever d-done before..."

He kept himself from smiling too much. This sounded kind of serious, he wasn't supposed to be hung up on how long it had been since he'd seen her looking nervous and stuttering. It warmed a part of him deep in his chest that hadn't ever really gone away since last night. "Do you want to, May?"

"W-Well... if she needs somebody to help her..." Looking over to Alice, who was anticipating an agreement judging by the way she was smiling, herself. "I don't see w-why I shouldn't... I won't have to do anything but go inside with you...?"

Alice nodded, Mayu's assessment correct. "Thaaaaaaaat's it. Once we're inside, finding the hit will be easy, since they will be hosting this little shindig. We'll go in there, do our thing, and leave without anybody eveeeeer knowing what's going on."

He knew that, no matter what he felt about it, if she wanted to go and help Alice, it was going to happen, and he wouldn't be able to stop her. He wanted to figure that out first before he started arguing.

What would he argue though, he thought. How unsafe this would be? Alice could be--no, she didn't lie. And May would have Alice, *and* Tracy. If anything went wrong, they'd be able to get out easier than..something. He studied May, his years of practice at keeping his own troubled expressions from surfacing working in full force. His eyes were the only thing that gave him away. He swallowed thickly, rubbing his palms together. "When do you have to do this? Where is it?"

"Tomorrow evening," Alice informed him with a smile, rising from the bed since the decision was settled. "I have to get us properly dressed for the event, so I don't imagine you'll mind if I take her with me right now, will you?"

(Adapted from play. Thank you, Alice, for the fun and wonderful idea!)

The rush of warm air in her face was an unnatural feeling to Mayu. She was not used to being in vehicles, especially the kind with an open canopy. She remembered when Alice spoke to her about requisitioning a jeep for the purpose of getting around a year ago. It seemed she kept good care of it to not have lost it along the way.

They were already out of the city by morning and heading toward their destination: a massive estate some hours south of the city. There, a magnificent party was underway, with the two of them being considered VIPs due to Alice?s intervention. Alice never directly told Mayu that she?d disposed of the two in order to take their place for this party; perhaps for her own benefit. For all she knew, the party-goers were normal, everyday people. Then again, they were directly associated with somebody the bounty hunter was assigned to knock off the face of the planet. What the maiden didn?t know didn?t hurt her, she figured.

?You probably want to know what?s going on?? Alice asked the girl, speaking over the constant rush of wind that pushed the hair from their faces and left the girl squinting to keep her eyes in her skull. Alice?s tasteless, gaudy, movie star sunglasses shielded her from such burdens.

?M-Maybe? you only told me that I was small and adorable to fit the role. What are these people to the host of the party? The ones we?re pretending to be?? Mayu questioned, ducking low underneath the dash of the jeep. She needed a break from the wind and bugs that thought her face and mouth were a good place to die.

Alice turned one corner, the jeep catching air as it drove over a hump in the beaten road. They?d already dispersed from traffic and were on nothing but dirt and gravel. Concrete was a thing of the past where they were heading. Already the scenery was becoming opaque and dull. Rustic desert. ?They are potential buyers for slave labor. Children slave labor, precisely? Alice tacked on after a beat. ?This is supposed to be a silent auction for them.?

The girl?s eyes widened, shocked, head tucked between her knees. ?You?re putting somebody down who owns children and sells them as slaves?? The maiden was right: Alice only handles the evil and despicable. Ones not fit for living. Her Remnants disallowed her to handle even the most criminal. Not unless they were Reavers. For a brief instant, she was thankful to be brought along with somebody who had the jurisdiction to handle this level of scum.

?Something like that. I have the missive right here,? reaching into the cleavage of her button vest. She passed the small five page report to the girl. ?Your information is there also.?

Mayu wedged the paper between two fingers, unfolding it to look over the initial page. She read it aloud, ?Alice Muller, on order of the Bureau of Central Intelligence, to handle Lord Tessek of Mistwater Villa. ?Slave owner, child labor, p-p-prostitution and murder.? Slave Labor, while in the list, held more context than she realized. Her innocent mind didn?t decipher all the meanings, but again, what she didn?t know didn?t hurt her. ?He?s not? a very nice person, is he??

She continued, glancing over one paper clipped attachment: a photo. A man with a cadaverous visage, the bones of his face pronounced beneath sunken cheeks and narrow lips. Dressed in a towering top hat, only the vague wisp of salt and paper hair stood out beneath the rim and curled along his ears. His nose was like a hawk?s beak, long and pointed, giving him a more animalistic appearance with the way the photo captured a long, smug grin. The black and white photo taken from a considerable distance didn?t bring out any additional features worth noting. He was not attractive, mid forties at a glance, and was enough to send a shiver right down Mayu?s spine. She turned the page to rid his image before it burned into her memory.

A pass was on the next page, paper clipped to a report of two individuals. She read it aloud, ?Duke and Duchess Hartsfield of Normandy? w-wait,? pausing there. She plucked the pass labeled in bold red lettering, ?VIP? from the page and looked at it again. ?Duke and Duchess??

Alice glanced to the girl and the page, taking the pass from her to read over. ?Oh. I forgot to mention,? nonchalantly, ?In Normandy, the men of the region are extremely short in comparison to their women.?

?That?s? n-not what I meant,? but it was on the right track. The girl was quickly beginning to see where Alice was going with this. ?It says Duke. Isn?t that a title for men??

?Yes, it is,? Alice offered in return, a grin withheld. She handed the pass back.

Mayu didn?t know what to say at all. She flipped the pass over once. Men were short in this Normandy region, which meant? ?I?m going to b-be a man??

(♥ Alice)


Their jeep eased to a stop with a whine of brakes, the pair lurching forward slowly as it did so. Mayu already managed to change with only several issues along the way, a deep red parliament jacket concealing her figure to the point that even vivid imaginations would struggle to tell exactly what was hidden beneath the surface. Her slacks were an off-white shade, two dark stripes along the fold line. The black officer?s cap on her head somehow managed to hide her hair with the aid of many, many bobby pins. She passed as an officer at first glance, enough to startle Alice when the girl returned to the front seat.

?I have to say,? tapping the girl on the forehead, ?you totally look charming.?

The patter of finger tips to her brow flared laughter underneath her breath. ?T-Thanks? You?re getting changed??

Alice jerked a thumb into the windshield, pointing out an estate just up ahead. They were a half mile from the rendezvous point. Even from the considerable distance, the estate was large, promising. It was walled off like a fortress, solid ivory barring entry except for a thin cut where iron wrought gates replaced wall. The sun was only beginning to set yet the entire building cast a foreboding shadow stretching considerable acreage. It was hard to believe it was owned by one single man. Then again, the Ruler back in Shamanista had the Palace of Canonization fleshed to his liking, and it was easily the most profound, overdone, massive building she?d ever seen made for one lone person.

He was a government leader, though. The future of a whole people. This man, this disgusting, evil man? Mayu stuck her tongue out. How many children did he sell into labor, stole from their parents or orphanages that were eager to place them in loving homes, in order to acquire this kind of building? The fire of rage set in her heart, momentarily displacing herself from compassion and sympathy for somebody having regressed so far from any kind of salvation.

Alice, seeing the girl?s furrowed brow and sour, aching face, reached to clap a shoulder. ?We?ll get in and get out in the matter of minutes.? She hopped into the back seat, working off the buttons of her dark red vest. The woman wasn?t the sort to mind should another be nearby when changing, likely a condition she acquired when needing to go undercover to handle more direct, hands-on jobs. The dark tan of her complexion held true even beneath clothing when shedding clothing and going bare, certifying her southern heritage. The lift and swell of her soft breasts were enough to please any man, as was the bend of her rear, the tone of her thighs and flex of calves, drawing out an envious scowl from the girl looking on. Alice was more than simply a woman underneath the surface of jobs, facades, and lazy disposition. She was a quiet goddess in a world that clearly did not have enough. It reminded the girl she was without features that any normal man would find attractive.

To an extent, she endeared her own shortcomings, for it kept the opposite species away. At the same time?

Alice zipped up the leather corset that smashed down natural assets, the flare of her ballroom dress puffing out and flooding the rear end of the jeep when she rose to stand. ?There.. I admit,? looking herself over, arms out in mock pose, ?I hate this kind of clothing. How?s a girl to shoot a bunch of fools like this??

Mayu?s wandering mind, wanton staring, and silent admiration came to a close when Alice rose, mouth parting briefly in surprise. ??I d-don?t know?? realizing her throat was dry, her voice barely mustering the strength to sprout to life, ?I t-think you look good??

?You?re only saying that because you gotta be the pants in this relationship.? Alice hiked over the back door, tossing away her casual attire and any unneeded accessories that were not required in the current mission. Her pistol wasn?t amongst them, likely stored in a place that the guards couldn?t consider checking should they have to, but easily accessible should something go down the wrong way.

?You ready, girl?? a hand out to offer aid to Mayu, who seemed to have seen a better moment of focus and preparedness.

?A-Ah?? staring at the extended hand, accepting it in a white cotton glove and being pulled out the jeep. She wasn?t used to men?s dress shoes. She could wear huge platform boots that gave her up to four inches to height, complete with laces that climbed to the upper reaches of her thighs, yet somehow failed to accomplish walking in nothing but stiff leather soles. Every few steps she took needed her to shake out a leg like she had a lizard wandering up and down each pant leg.

The bounty hunter kept close to her partner, arm around her shoulders until within eye shot of the guards. Their pace was slow and natural, carried only by urgency alone. Even though they appeared to be in the desert wasteland, the climate was cool and bearable. Refreshing to both girls.

?There?s a few more details worth noting,? looking over the girl?s capped head. With her heels, the hunter was well over six feet, gaining a considerable height advantage. She also had luck on her side when it came to walking, barely a trip in her step even in the dirt and gravel road they crossed. ?If you recall, this Lord Tessek we?re knocking off is using this event as a silent auction.?

Mayu held Alice for support and balance, already scuffing the tops of her polished shoes, ?Y-Yes. Slave owner and child labor worker,? repeating what she remembered being on the report.

?Since it?s a silent auction, we can expect there to be children on site,? tapping the girl?s cap, accidentally drawing it over her eyes. ?The children aren?t considered part of the priority because they?re not hit subjects.?

The girl fumbled beneath Alice?s rigorous tapping, flapping a hand around like fighting off a stubborn fly. ?A-Ah? we-we?re going to help them still, r-right? I don?t know that I?d be able to just ignoring them while we?re here??

A faint laugh didn?t mean to ridicule the girl?s question. ?Because they?re not priority doesn?t mean we?re going to ignore them. I?m going to leave them up to you to usher out before I do anything. I don?t think any of you need to see somebody being ploughed through the head.?

Children were impressionable. They lead a tough life. These especially. The girl?s heart sank at the thought of them being sold on private markets to appease men and women just as sickening as the one in charge of this, what Alice called, shindig. ??w-what about these people that are here to buy these children???

?I?m afraid there?s nothing I can do about them,? Alice?s arms loosening around the girl. They were growing closer to the point it was dangerous to be a supportive friend and instructed to instead be a desirable Duchess. ?I?m not authorized to arrest anybody. That?s not really my job description.? It was clear she?d considered the prospect of doing more than she already is. She couldn?t lament her dissatisfaction more than that.

?They?re just? going to get away?? She wasn?t accusing Alice of not doing enough here. There had to be something more they could do under the circumstances. ?C-Can?t you call somebody in afterwards? You?re? part of some agency.?

Alice shook her head, chin up, breasts pressed out. She filled her role without suspicion. ?Don?t worry about them. Once Lord Tessek is taken care of, these people will stray. Natural law enforcement will take them down soon enough.? An elbow met Mayu?s shoulders, a guide to correct her stance. ?Stand tall. These guards have details on posture. One minor difference and we?re going to have more than we bargained for.?

?A-Ah? r-right!? standing tall, her head dipping low to conceal her eyes. One thing the girl couldn?t change was the color of her eyes. Men of Normandy all carried traits of blue eyes. It was already a rare occurrence for somebody of her nationality to have green eyes, let alone hope for them to become blue. With the aid of a well placed shadow, however, many a thing was possible?

Mayu hissed out a breath of air from her nostrils, fighting off the deep red color that killed the pale complexity of her features. Excusing her hand from one tier of her dress, Alice curtseyed to the two. She nudged several fingers against Mayu?s back, urging her head. ?Let?s go, sweet?ums. We should greet our old friend first!"

"Nnn?" At Alice's urgings, she stepped past the guards and through the gate, following the paved walkway that leads straight to the front steps and door of the estate. She felt weak and hot all in the same breath. It wasn't often men tried to feel her up, and her one experience had to be an embarrassing situation where she was mocking to be a man. How was she ever going to get married now? If that ever even came to be?

The two paused at the front doors, which were pulled wide open. The rush of classical music filled their ears, as did the smell of cooked meat invade their noses. It made Alice?s mouth water on the spot, never one to pass up a chance at having something to eat. Even if it was foreign food prepared by the more grotesque members of society. She dipped down in front of the girl, lifting the cap on her head, ?You did good. I didn?t think anybody would actually consider feeling you up.?

Mayu?s eyes were dark with anger. Not at Alice, specifically. It was hard to tell. ?Y-Yeah? good t-thing I don?t? have your kind of parts??

Lowering her head, she scoped out where Mayu?s chest should be beneath the officer?s coat. ?I?m pretty certain you look sensational without anything on under all this.?

??? She understood the good gesture and the need to pick somebody up after they were knocked over. Too much did it remind her of another, though. Too much were the similarities beginning to take shape. Those exact words got her in trouble a year ago. Her blush intensified, breath erratic. ??h-hn? t-th-thanks? I g-g-guess??

?No problem, girl.? The hunter crooked a finger, lowering the cap. Her voice took on the aspect of business. ?All right, Beautiful. Lord Tessek?s likely not going to be appearing right off the bat. It?s way too large a home for us to wander around without drawing attention, so we?re going to have to schmooze with the general audience until he shows up.? She glanced over her shoulder, ensuring nobody was within earshot. With the volume of the music, she was safe. ?If he has the kids here for sell on the spot, they?re probably going to be held somewhere until the auction starts. Until then,? blue eyes beneath long lashes stare into the girl?s, ?don?t try anything silly, all right??

The girl blinked once, a little perplexed by the notion. ??s-silly? Why would I???

A smile lifted one side of Alice?s mouth. ?I learned a long time ago when I had a partner working with me.. You can?t assume anything. You need to say it when you think it. Otherwise, that?s how accidents happen.?

Alice had another partner? She stated how exclusive she was, wanting to handle everything on her own. It was remarkable the hunter wanted to take her somewhere. She looked over the woman?s shoulder, watching as several members of the auction passed by. ?W-What? happened to your previous partner??

The woman collected herself and stood. ?She.. and I were working on a case.. some years back now, I guess. Somebody kidnapped a wealthy businessman's daughter and we were hired to pop him before the deadline of the ransom was supposed to be delivered. He was asking.. eh, a lot of money. More than anybody should be asking in ransom."

Alice, facing the yard of the home, watched as Prestin and Fatman paced back and forth, recalling the events of her mission with an uncharacteristic frown. "Kiley.. that was my partner's name.. Kiley was really good at talking to people and getting them to open up to you. She had a hell of a time working me until I gave up everything there was to know about me. But there was this thing about her.. this.. remarkable quality that made you want to say things to her."

She unleashed a depressing sigh, "She stopped me when we were getting ready to barge into the room he was holing himself up in. This rinky-dinky motel. She was like, 'Alice, I don't wanna go in there and kill this gent. Not with another there that's able to see it happen.' I thought she was crazy.. Like me, the only thing she?d known all her life was how many ways she could kill a person." She shook her head, a stifled, brief laugh at the silliness of the memory. "But that girl.. you couldn't tell her no. Not even when she was going after a guy holding another for ransom, who was diagnosed with mental health issues. She said, 'I know it's silly. It's all so damned silly. I know we're supposed to pop him. Just trust me.'"

The auburn haired woman looked down to the girl, who was listening with such a willingness, Alice didn't have reason to tell the girl to never mind. She felt like she was putting the girl out. "And you know..? I did. I trusted her. She was my partner. The first person that worked alongside me. I thought, 'Why not? If Kiley wants to do this, she must know what she's doing. How can I let her down and tell her no?' ..she told that fellow she wanted to talk to him. Work something out. She went into that room and closed the door behind her so he couldn't see that I was standing there. Listening. Waiting. Freaking.."

Mayu could see a path the story was taking. Talking in the past tense, the sadness etched in her face. A sadness she hadn't ever seen in Alice before. A woman so full of energy, of a carefree disposition, sad. It pained her. She made a reach for one hand, squeezing it to convey an apology well after it was due.

The tall woman accepted the gesture, another stifled laugh in the making. "The only thing I could hear was the sound of a gun. One. Two. Three. It happened like the snapping of fingers. I kicked that door down like nobody's business and stormed in there, ready to shoot, ready to do it like I had wanted to. But.."

She let out another sigh, head low, shaking. "Kiley was there.. on the floor, blood pouring from a hole in her head. Across the room, tied to a chair, was the one we were supposed to save. Hole in her chest.. And the person that'd done it. Self-inflicted.. right through the underneath of his chin. I never.. once thought she'd go in there and never come out.." Her voice was weak. There was a burning ache in her throat, an exhaustion welling from her fighting off the want to cry. "..I've never said anything about this before.. but when I look at you.."

Hunkering down next to the girl, she placed her hands on Mayu's shoulders. Tight. Firm. Enough strength to crack her bones were she not attentive to the girl's size. "I see Kiley in you.. sometimes.. the way you smile, want to help, do the right thing. You can?t wind up like her.. Okay? Don't do anything silly. I couldn't forgive myself once. ..again would kill me."

"?You d-don?t have to worry a-about that, Alice,? changing out the touch of hands to fully wrap her arms around the woman. The need to present a guise was utterly forgotten on the stoop of the estate, thin arms wrapping and squeezing Alice?s neck until she was on the verge of popping her head off. She needed Alice to realize that she was right there for her and doing this based on her direct instruction. Nobody was going to be doing anything silly, or getting hurt. ?I promise? You can count on me to do everything based on what you want. W-We?ll? do this together. Go in together, come out t-together. Nothing silly.?

It was difficult to hold back from crying. Both of them. Mayu was the first to, wetting the tan color of Alice?s bare shoulder that she was hanging over. The kiss of wetness on her skin, the unmistakable shiver of her shoulders, ignited tears of Alice?s own.

Parting, Alice lifted, ?Sorry for bringing all this up.. We need to be focused. We can be distracted later.? She wiped her tears away onto the forefinger of her formal gloves, turning to face the open doors of the estate. ?First things first: Find Lord Tessek. If he doesn?t have the kids, this?ll be an open and shut case. If he does, we?ll have to get a little dirty. You okay with that, girl??

Mayu stumbled back a step, sniffing up her runny nose. The officer?s cap kept the stain of red in her eyes from being discernible. ?Nnn? y-yeah. That sounds like a perfect I-idea. W-We need to b-be sure he doesn?t have t-them here even if h-he doesn?t come out with t-them right away??

?Good idea.? She waited for Mayu to lead. She was the gentlemanly Duke of Normandy after all.

Upon first glance, the man seemed forged of the very finery gracing his home. Nothing but the best silks and starched cottons made up his attire, the ironed creases of which were sharp enough to split stone. His gloves a pristine white, footwear polished to a blinding shimmer that put all other surrounding surfaces to shame.

It was his actual visage, though, that detracted from his overall immaculate image. Flesh drawn tight and thin over his face was ashen gray and somehow managed not to split around protruding cheekbones. His grin was wide, long, too large for his thin lips. Each sharp, yellow angle of his teeth glinted wetly, slick with restrained malice. The gentle murmur of a crowd thoroughly enjoying themselves reached his ears.

Takers. All of them, takers, he thought, his heels clicking crisply against the floor, the journey to the staircase short but made long by his deliberately slow stride. His stabbing gaze wandered aside, settling on the lone figure on the floor with him. Short and slender, fragile almost. The uniform he recognized, but that face. That smooth, perfect, youthful face. Young enough to be on his ensuing display.

Underneath the officer?s hat, Mayu?s gaze hardened like finely tempered steel. The main event was about to begin. The frame of leather was tucked low, fin perfectly fitting over her countenance. Of all the things to be concerned over, blowing her cover before anybody had a chance to even assess the situation would be the most brutal way to end a mission early.

You look like a man. You look like Duke Hartsfield of Normandy. Remember! Her stomach churned, eliciting an ache in the pit that forced the organ to become taut and heated. A fire welled in her, masses of discomfort taking shape and pluming up into her ribs. She squirmed to expel the unnerving swell of pain and cast it aside. Mayu was a woman of decisive choice. It was the mind that prevailed over matter. Shake it off. You can?t afford to start freaking out now. Be strong for Alice.

"If it isn't Duke Hartsfield," he said. His voice was thin like a snake's would have been, the wide stretch of his smile distorting words that were dripping with rotten sweetness. His focus was like a painful stream of needles; prickling and painfully invasive. "I'm honored that you could make it. Please, feel free to partake of your fill of the festivities.

"My friends..!" he called when he reached the top of the stairs, his beady eyes darting from one perspective customer to the next. The appearance of the estate owner caused an immediate hush. Cheerful music that had yet to observe a pause tapered into nothingness. Glasses were adjusted and monocles raised as every head filling the massive foyer to turn in unison.

"Welcome to my..humble..abode, and this, our beloved biannual exhibition. A little late this year, but what can one do? Before we find the whip that brings the horse to its knees, we must go through a lengthy, painful process of trial and error," he said, the tip of a deep red tongue running along each lengthy tooth. Polite chuckles drifted out from behind gloved hands and delicate fans meant to conceal the women's faces. Men turned to each other, sharing wolfish grins. "And I assure you, we have a good many of those sturdy beasts here for your viewing and purchasing pleasure."

The fire in her stomach was turning into an inferno. It wasn?t just an ache now, clenching tight until she started to feel her abs bend and fold, joining together. ?Hngh? w-what is this??? she hissed to herself with a snake?s devious rasp as her hands swam over the surface of her parliament jacket. There was no feeling, pain peaking until it numbed both her stomach and hands that begrudgingly gave themselves up to feel out the birth and cause.

Sweat pooled along her hairline, sodden loose bangs of sea green tumbling over her brow. Her vision began to blur from the intense folds of pressure that wracked her, scanning those that came to attend the insidious event. Where was Alice? The woman would stand out much more crisply than those of dull woolen grays that oozed corruption and duplicitous affairs. Those that drowned her vision, none of them carried an aura of magnificence. Their morals were no more debauched than the most vile of devils.

Was was making her sticky and ill? Her crippled, afflicted frame draped the railing overlooking those below, huffs blistering the air. Why do I feel like I?m about to pass out? I can?t even? breathe?

Lord Tessek dipped a hand into his breast pocket and withdrew a gleaming, golden watch attached to a thin chain. There were too many dials and moving hands to be readable to anyone's eyes but his own. "The top of the hour is almost near, the time for transaction nigh. Grasp your pocketbooks and uncap your pens, my friends, and enjoy!"

He laughed heartily, each sound stuffed with malignant humor. It wrapped around him like a sick, invisible cloud, following his steps as he began to descend the fanning staircase into the foyer. The gentle caress of the music and light conversation began again as if on cue.

A phantom?s dagger plunged through Mayu?s torso once Lord Tessek began to descend to the foyer. It twisted and sliced in a clean line, following the rocky hills of her contorting spinal column until her insides wadded up in her throat and ballooned her cheeks. She retched, a violent spewing that forced her from the railing and to her knees. She sputtered, she coughed. She soon did it again.

Agony shocked her system as if she had been electrocuted. She was wrapped in a blanket of unparalleled distress, frozen stiff. Her jaw tensed, her head throbbed, her heart tearing itself like soggy paper with each palpitated beat.

She stirred, she clutched, she let loose a piercing, shrill scream. It was the only thing she could muster in hopes of venting unrelenting, deep-seated suffering. She toppled sideways, cap popping from her head and spilling inky globs of sodden ocean hair that sullied the floor and sharp ninety degree point of stairs.

Had a duke's hat not tumbled down the stairs ahead of him, or a bloodcurdling scream did not fill the room?s den of silence, the Lord himself would have not known any different if a girl was soiling prized carpeting with her late lunch. His was the only head that turned, even topped with a sky scraping top hat that acted more like a beacon than anything else. The stretch of errant tendrils of ocean green reached him across several steps. They splayed from the head of the fallen Duke, he noted, with fiendish satisfaction.

There had been something off about the man, now woman; it was hard not to discern such things this close. His first notion was to leave her sprawled for the thralls to do with what they will. Perhaps in her they would find a close friend prior to their subsequent sales.

"You have a nice face. So young, and full of life," he hissed as he returned to the fallen false Duke's side. A depraved smile threatened to split his mouth at the seams. If anything, he must play the gracious Host. "So..full of the delicious naivet? that has yet to be scarred by the harsh ways of the world.

"I say, are you alright? Little farce." His white gloved fingers dimpled the flesh of her cheek. Whirls of gray smoke rose immediately, searing pain crackling across every nerve ending in his limb. Lord Tessek recoiled, spitting in frustration. The tips of his spotless gloves had been eaten away, his fingers beneath writhing gelatinous globs fighting to join as one.

"You have been touched. Blessed!" Spittle sprayed from his teeth, down upon the fallen girl's face where it sizzled and popped like fat in a frying pan. "But by whom? It was only a matter of time."

He swept the fallen body aside with the shining toe of his shoe, watching her head loll with assumed curiosity. There was little to no interest, however, in his beady eyes. They bored down upon the ground where she had once lay. There was an item there, its intricate silver surface shining in the foyer's light. What color had been in his face drained away. His too wide smile still fighting to remain gave him the appearance of a dying clown.

In a viper quick lunge, he took the fallen girl by the throat. He ignored the reaction of his flesh and the acrid smelling smoke that wafted into his nose.

"So the tables have turned, have they? What a clever shrew, and with such an ability to sniff out the possessed like some mangy mongrel. I'm afraid that your mission will have to be cut short, I cannot have your kind puttering around as you please...

Exorcist."

**

In the blanket of shadows, where supportive ivory pillar obscures the reach of sunny rays, a hunter lingers on the prowl. She bore witness to events, awestruck by what was unfolding before her eyes. ?Son of a bitch.? Alice spat. ?I knew they were concerned about her. I didn't actually think it was true..?

From a holster strapped beneath tier and frill, the hunter drew a polished colt. It captured light despite being blotted from plain sight, faintly glossed blue and held close. ?You are going to get a piece of my mind once I finish up here, Conrad.?

The pistol spun at the grip, clutched tight and at the ready.

?Remnants. Ignition!?